The U.S. government on Thursday said it will no longer deport people solely because they are undocumented, Homeland Security secretary said.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said a memo ordered to immigration and border agency officials states that immigration officers can no longer detain and deport people from the U.S. solely because they are undocumented.
Mayorkas said the enforcement officers were ordered to focus on the arrest and deportation of immigrants who pose a threat to both national and border security, as well as public safety.
This includes people suspected of terrorism or espionage, those who have committed serious crimes and migrants who illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border after Nov. 1, 2020.
The guidelines require a case-by-case assessment of individuals to determine if they fall under these priority categories, according to a Homeland Security press release.
Mayorkas also said officers will no longer be permitted to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants who have long been “contributing members” of the U.S. community, including faith leaders, farmworkers, and frontline health workers.
The new guidelines also prohibit officers from detaining immigrants whose status is revealed by “unscrupulous employers,” as long as they don’t commit a major crime.
The new guidelines take effect on Nov. 29.
